Workers cry for aid, better protection

MANILA, Philippines — Workers from various organizations and unions staged simultaneous Labor Day protests yesterday to demand protection against the COVID-19 pandemic and aid amid the recession.

Rallying workers marched to Mendiola in Manila, in contrast to last year’s Labor Day protest action which was done virtually due to the pandemic lockdown.

National Confederation of Labor (NCL) chairman Ernesto Arellano said Filipino workers are “being attacked on all sides,” citing how their “livelihoods are being destroyed and wages depressed by employers taking advantage of the pandemic to increase their profit margins.”

Arellano noted that the workers’ right to security of tenure and freedom of association are “being suppressed by union-busting capitalists in tandem with state agents.”

At the same time, he complained that the Duterte administration is not providing enough “ayuda” or financial aid to the millions of workers suffering under the weight of the health crisis.

Buklurang Manggagawang Pilipino president Luke Espiritu also said that until now, the government has yet to implement an “effective policy that can curb the swelling number of mass lay-offs.”

He said the government must stop mass lay-offs which have left some 4.2 million Filipinos without income.

Socialista president Eding Villasin said “so many workers have yet to receive Special Amelioration Program assistance while the funds have already dried up.”

He said the aid being distributed is “simply not enough for the survival of working families, especially as prices of basic goods continue to soar.”

Amid the protests, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) secretary-general Renato Reyes accused police of hijacking their march to Liwasang Bonifacio.

“The current COVID-19 crisis necessitates the holding of a physical mobilization, even if only for just one hour, to raise high the call for economic aid during the pandemic,” said Reyes as he lamented how they were prevented from gathering at the designated freedom park.

“Instead of repressive tactics, the regime should listen to the people’s demands. The problem is COVID and the wrong policies of government, not the peaceful protest actions,” he said.

The protesters moved their short program to Welcome Rotonda. The 4,000 individuals who participated maintained physical distancing, said Reyes.

In its monitoring report, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said the number of protesters yesterday reached only about 1,000.

On the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Gen. Debold Sinas said the protests were generally peaceful throughout the country.

“We would like to thank those militant and labor groups who heeded our call to abandon their earlier plans to stage public assemblies. Our objective is to keep everyone safe,” the PNP chief said in a statement.

Around 10,000 police officers were deployed to secure Metro Manila on Labor Day and no untoward incidents were reported.

But Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, Manila Police District director, confirmed that Kilusang Mayo Uno rallyists were blocked from entering the city as claimed by Reyes.

Responding to complaints, Sinas reminded demonstrators that mass gatherings are prohibited in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal which are under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Red-tagging HCWs

Yesterday, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III raised the issue of red-tagging of health care workers (HCWs) “for simply asking for better benefits and pay.”

Citing a recent consultation with HCWs, Duque said they voiced out red-tagging and incidents of “discrimination, intimidation and violence” being committed against them.

The health chief said this will not be tolerated and vowed to collate these reports from HCWs for proper investigation and resolution.

“Now more than ever HCWs play a crucial role in our COVID-19 response. We stand against any form of discrimination, intimidation and violence against them,” he said, adding that the DOH will hold perpetrators of these acts accountable.

He also assured HCWs that the DOH continues to strive for better compensation and benefits befitting their service and sacrifices for our nation. – Rhodina Villanueva, Emmanuel Tupas, Ralph Edwin Villanueva